Another source with knowledge of royal security operations said, “Protecting Windsor Castle is an enormously complicated operation because it functions almost like a small town as well as a royal residence.
“You’ve got a vast estate to monitor, multiple access points, tourist traffic every day, staff coming and going constantly, official vehicles, deliveries, and major public events happening throughout the year. From a policing perspective, it’s one of the most demanding royal sites in the country.”
The insider added: “That level of activity means officers can never afford to become complacent or switch onto autopilot, even during quieter periods when senior royals are not visibly present.
“The fear among security professionals is that it only takes one lapse in concentration or one unattended position for somebody dangerous to exploit a weakness in the system. Given the profile of the Royal Family and the history of threats against them, the stakes are incredibly high if procedures are not followed properly at all times.”
The latest controversy follows further security concerns in October 2024 when thieves stole a pickup truck and quad bike from a nearby estate farm before smashing through a security gate while William, Catherine, and their children, Prince George, 12, Princess Charlotte, 11, and Prince Louis, eight, slept nearby at Adelaide Cottage.